President Barack Obama on Monday will direct federal regulators to move quickly on a waiver request from California and 13 other states that want to set higher fuel-economy standards for vehicles, according to a New York Times report citing two administration sources.
The Bush administration denied California’s request for a waiver in December 2007, despite evidence that the majority of the Environmental Protection Agency’s scientists supported the petition. Bush’s EPA head argued that it would result in an unenforceable patchwork of laws around the country.
Obama had promised to reverse the Bush decision during last year’s campaign, and on Jan. 21, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols sent letters to the new administration asking them to follow through. In her confirmation hearing, new EPA administrator Lisa Jackson indicated that she would reconsider their request.
The New York Times also reports that Obama will direct the Department of Transportation to begin drafting new national automobile fuel-economy regulations in compliance with the December 2007 energy bill. He is also planning to call on federal agencies to begin making government buildings more energy efficient, according to the Times.
The Washington Post also has the story, reporting that White House officials “privately trumpeted [the emissions move] to supporters as ‘the first environment and energy actions taken by the President, helping our country move toward greater energy independence.’”
While the Times says Obama’s decision will result in quick approval for California emissions waiver, the Post‘s story has a more conditional tone, saying only that the president has ordered the EPA “to reexamine two policies that could force automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars which yield fewer greenhouse gas emissions.”
UPDATE: Senate Environment and Public Works Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) issued this statement Sunday night praising the move: “As Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I will be working with the new EPA Administrator to ensure that the California waiver moves forward as fast as possible. When the waiver is signed, it will be a signal to Detroit that a huge market awaits them if they do the right thing and produce the cleanest, most efficient vehicles possible.”
UPDATE: And this from Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope: “This action deserves the loudest applause. President Obama is making good on campaign promises and sending yet another clear signal that global warming and a clean energy economy are top priorities for his administration. By beginning this process and directing EPA to review the Bush administration’s lack of action, President Obama is turning the Federal Government into a force for positive change instead of a roadblock.”
U.N. climate chief raises the temperature with racy novel
Comments
View as Flat
David Roberts Posted 11:08 am
25 Jan 2009
grist.org
Permalink
GreenMom Posted 1:08 pm
25 Jan 2009
Permalink
Sam Wells Posted 2:12 pm
25 Jan 2009
Onward through the fog
Permalink
GreenMom Posted 2:33 pm
25 Jan 2009
It's a new day.
http://takeourplanetback.dipdive.com/#/%7E/videoplayer/0/ ...
Permalink
Pompey Road Posted 12:40 am
26 Jan 2009
The Big Three will cry and scream but this is a good thing if they will get on board. If not Japanese auto workers will.
The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.
Permalink
amazingdrx Posted 12:58 am
26 Jan 2009
Now get our there and terminate gas guzzling ahhnoldt. A Californian initiative could push mileage standards up very quickly and set a mark for the rest of the states.
The eventual standard that eliminates 90% of oil use sits up over 100 mpg, a figure already reached by several plugin hybrid models.
Arnold could end up being the next "...president of the united states who was never president of the united states" (to quote >"Firesign Theater's" take on Ben Franklin), and a progressive republican hero like Teddy Roosevelt or "Fighting Bob".
In 1957, a Senate committee selected La Follette as one of their five greatest Senate predecessors. A 1982 survey of historians that asked them to rank the "ten greatest Senators in the nation's history" based on "accomplishments in office" and "long range impact on American history," placed La Follette first, tied with Henry Clay.[1]
If the GOP takes a new direction, set by people like the governator, they could make a comeback, yikes. But that's ok, we could use a challenge, a progressive challenge to keep our team honest.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
Permalink
cheflovesbeer Posted 2:04 am
26 Jan 2009
Also, there are several other states thinking about joining. The car companies should just bite the bullet and make cars to the CA standard. It will be cheaper then making two cars and suing the federal government to not make the lower emission cars. No one is asking for cars with higher emissions.
I am sure you all can make a smoother presentation than I can.
Permalink
davedenali Posted 2:46 am
26 Jan 2009
---
Many people were (happily)aware of that problem. Many would also note that the largest car manufacturer in the world is now Toyota and that Honda has done relatively well with a fuel-efficient offering. And when GM's CEO dismisses global climate disruption as BS, it's hard to feel much sympathy for companies being forced to be environmentally responsible. Things they should have done years ago on their own.
Permalink
Pompey Road Posted 5:21 am
26 Jan 2009
The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.
Permalink
josullivan58 Posted 5:43 am
26 Jan 2009
I am happy to see this return to the rule of law, and I expect the waver to be quickly granted.
Permalink